Most women only suffer from UTIs 1-2 times within their lifetime; however, if you’re one of the unlucky few that suffer from chronic UTIs (such as myself) then here are 10 ways you can help prevent UTIs to save you from a costly doctor’s visit.

Consume Fermented Goods

Goods such as yogurts and kombucha contain live cultures, which are good bacteria that will help fight the infections within your body. Usually after having sexual intercourse, your body has been exposed to bad bacteria, such as E. coli. Such bacteria can result in a urinary tract infection if you don’t have enough good bacteria to fight it.

Consuming a bottle of kombucha or a cup of yogurt a day will add healthy bacteria to your immune system. This will lessen the chance of getting a UTI.

Drink Cranberry Juice

While it’s still a debated topic if cranberries actually help UTIs or not, most doctors agree that it doesn’t hurt to try it. Cranberries are said to help prevent E.coli bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall, thus preventing the infection of an UTI.

However, if you’re going to consume cranberry juice make sure it’s organic. In this case, it means there’s no sugar and it’s not the delicious cranberry cocktail brand. The real deal is going to taste bitter, but it could help prevent your chances of getting a UTI. If the taste is too much for you, then consider buying AZO cranberry pills. You can have these once a day to reduce your chance of getting a UTI.

Don’t Hold It In, Go Pee

If you’ve suffered the wrath of UTIs, you’ll know how preventable they are. Although no one likes to plan for sex, doing so could be the key to prevention. This means peeing before and after having sex. This is because it will flush out the bad bacteria and reduce your chances of getting an infection. To make sure you’ll use the bathroom after sex, drink a glass of water before getting into the act.

Get Clean!

After having sex, it’s a good idea to take a shower. Rinse off all of the bodily fluids that have probably gotten mixed up in your down unders. Even though this could be an inconvenience, you and your partner should consider taking a shower before and after sex to rinse off any uncleanliness that could be leftover.

Do Not Use Soap Down There

I was recently told not to use regular body soap on my vagina. When my doctor found out I was using regular body wash down there, she nearly freaked out. Body wash will usually contain chemicals that can mess up the PH balance of your vagina, which can lead to yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis. Dr. Jackie, a famous OB-GYN, refers to the vagina as a “self-cleaning oven”, so don’t worry, your vagina wants to clean itself.

Start Taking Probiotics

Once I started taking probiotics to target my infections, my life changed for the better. My doctor recommended Rephresh probiotics because they’re affordable ($17 for a month’s worth of pills), and they really do work. Rephresh probiotics puts lactobacillus bacteria, a healthy bacterium that targets infections and yeast, into your body. With the added help of a daily consumption of yogurt, you have turned your vagina into a fighting machine.

Drink Plenty Of Water

By staying hydrated, your giving your body plenty of opportunities to release bad bacteria from your body every time you go to the restroom. By flushing out those bad bacteria, you’re helping prevent infection one step at a time.

Stop Shaving

Yes, you read that right. As much as we love how cute our vaginas look when they’re shaven, it’s actually not good for you. Body hair is usually there for a purpose whether it’s to keep us warm or to prevent bacteria from entering our bodies.

Vaginal pubic hairs help protect us from the friction that occurs during sexual intercourse and will keep out unwanted bacteria and other bad pathogens.

Avoid Spermicides and Diaphragms

Spermicides can bring bad bacteria into your vagina and also mess up its pH balance, which can result in an overgrowth of yeast or bacteria. Diaphragms can leave behind small amounts of urine in your bladder, which can cause an increase of bacteria to build up leading to an infection. By sticking to contraceptives such as birth control, IUD and others you can save yourself from a painful infection.

Cotton Undies For The Win!

When you wear tight underwear such as thongs, you’re creating a moist environment that bacteria are going to want to hang out in. And the last thing you want are bad bacteria hanging out in your underwear. By switching over to cotton underwear, you’re giving your vagina more room to breathe and keeping away unwanted bacteria.